Called Odd Man in Lacrosse—Wings’ Power Play Devastating

The odd-man or box lacrosse’s
version of the hockey power-play (where one team enjoys a one-man advantage as
the result of an opposition penalty) has proven to be a more devastating weapon
than any ever exhibited on Spectrum ice by the Rangers, Bruins, or Flyers.

Only an extraordinary defensive
performance or a conversely inept offensive attack prevents odd-man from
culminating in a goal. Such is the edge
afforded the offense…particularly when Coach Bob Allan sends pointman John
Grant, cornermen Larry Lloyd and Brian Robinson, and creasemen Terry Lloyd and
Zeny Lipinski out of the floor against the box-zone set up by the four
defenders in fron of the enemy net.

But look again. Do the Wings really have a five-against-four
advantage? Not if you’ve observed
closely during the season for Allan has literally been attacking three not five against four! Why would
he kiss away a manpower advantage?
Sounds silly! But not when you analyze the talents of his Terrific
Trio—Robinson, Larry Lloyd, and “Tree” Grant.

In my short tenure as Wings’
broadcaster in this premier box lacrosse season, I’ve come to the conclusion
that there is no more overpowering unit on attack than the Terrific Trio in the
League.

Each is rangy, Grant and Lloyd
well over six feet, and each has an explosive shot which, one-on-one against
any goaler from within 25 feet, is an overmatch.

Grant’s exceptional backhand
pass puts tremendous pressure on the front pair of the defensive zone, and
Grant’s flexibility enables him to threaten that twosome with three options:
passes left or right or that straight-on shot.
Constantly moving and guessing eventually puts the defense out of
position. Then with the open alley, one
of the Terrific Trio gets THE shot which results in the goal judge doing his thing!

While Lipinski and Terry Lloyd
do contain the back pair on the zone defense keeping them “honest,” they’ll
rarely be directly involved in the play.
They don’t attempt too much screening (blocking the goaler’s view) since
the movement at the top of the zone gives the Wings’ [sic] exceptionally high
percentage shots not needing the screen.
And seldom do Zeny and Terry get rebounds since wide-shots have such
velocity that the ricochet speed is too great for reaction control, and shots
right on net either go in the goal or
in the goaler.

Thus, Allan has, for all
intents and purposes, said to the Griffins, Tomahawks, Quebecois, Arrows, and
Stinger. “My three are better than your four.” So far no one has proved him wrong.

So have some compassion for the
defense of a penalized box lacrosse team.
The chances of their coming out of a penalty unscathed are like those in
a Russian Roulette game with bullets in every
chamber. Especially if the bullets are
marked Brian Robinson, Larry Lloyd, and John Grant. ZZZZZZing!
Wings Score!

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